Airbus Chief Executive Officer Thomas Enders said here on Saturday, he plans to expand his company's manufacturing and engineering projects throughout the world.
Currently, 65 percent of Airbus' planes are sold in the Europe. Enders said the company must broaden its market to ensure success. Those future markets include Asia.
China showed robust growth in civil aviation. According to an estimate by Airbus last February, the mainland of China would need more than 3,000 aircraft between 2006 and 2025, including 180 super jumbo passenger planes.
China set up its first ever jumbo passenger aircraft company in Shanghai last May. It was a major step in the country's large jet program.
The company, named Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd. , is expected to build aircraft with a take-off weight of more than 100 tons, which includes more than 150 seats.
While attending the Sept. 27-28 Summer Davos Forum, held in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin, Enders expressed his hopes to join in China's large plane project.
"We look forward to strengthening research and development with Chinese enterprises and will probably triple out-sourcing volume in China, which is to reach half a billion U.S. dollars in the next couple of years," said Enders.
He added a new Tianjin-based Airbus A320 manufacturing plant would be officially inaugurated Sept. 28.
The assembly plant is a joint venture between Airbus and Tianjin Zhongtian Aviation Industry Investment Co., a Chinese alliance of the AVIC I, AVIC II, and Tianjin Bonded Zone Investment Group.
AVIC I and AVIC II are China's two leading state-owned aviation manufacturers.
Source: Xinhua
Monday, September 29, 2008
China Telecom plans multi-billion dollar upgrade of CDMA network
China Telecommunications Corporation said on Saturday it would invest 80 billion yuan to upgrade its newly acquired CDMA network.
Starting Oct. 1, Telecom Group takes over the network, which was transferred from China United Communications Corporation , parent company of the wireless service provider China Unicom.
The transfer is expected to be finished in three months.
According to Telecom Group, broadening the wireless CDMA network coverage would be its top priority in the next quarter.
The company said the first phase of work includes building a batch of new CDMA base stations in cities, improving coverage in counties and townships, and beefing up indoor coverage by FMC services.
Telecom group also plans to increase cell phones wireless Internet speed over the next three years.
The country's telecom reshuffling forms three market contenders, in which China Mobile, China Netcome , and China Telecom would compete against each other, each with fixed and wireless services.
Source: Xinhua
Starting Oct. 1, Telecom Group takes over the network, which was transferred from China United Communications Corporation , parent company of the wireless service provider China Unicom.
The transfer is expected to be finished in three months.
According to Telecom Group, broadening the wireless CDMA network coverage would be its top priority in the next quarter.
The company said the first phase of work includes building a batch of new CDMA base stations in cities, improving coverage in counties and townships, and beefing up indoor coverage by FMC services.
Telecom group also plans to increase cell phones wireless Internet speed over the next three years.
The country's telecom reshuffling forms three market contenders, in which China Mobile, China Netcome , and China Telecom would compete against each other, each with fixed and wireless services.
Source: Xinhua
China's economy in good shape despite global financial chaos
China's economy was in good shape and capable of maintaining financial stability despite global chaos, Liu Mingkang, chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission , said on Saturday.
Liu made the remarks at the ongoing 2008 Summer Davos forum, also known as the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2008, which kicked off on Saturday in the north China metropolis of Tianjin.
Though feeling gloomy about the outlook of the world economy, most attendees were confident about China's economic prospects.
"China has full confidence and capabilities to ensure sound and fast economic growth for a long period of time," Premier Wen Jiabao said at the opening ceremony.
Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, said China is still a fast growing economy and maylead the world economy in the future.
But for now, as the financial market globalizes, no country could escape the financial crisis, Liu said.
He forecast the annual economic growth would slow to between 9 percent or 9.5 percent, as falling consumer spending in Europe and the United States cut export demands. China's economy expanded 11.9 percent last year.
"This is not a bad thing for China," Liu said, "China needs not only speed, but also quality."
"We had more room to boost growth as consumption and investment demands could make up for the falling exports," Liu said.
Speaking about the U.S. government's 700 billion dollar bailout package, Liu said, it would boost market confidence, but not enough for a cure.
He compared the proposed rescue plan to convenient "fast food", and said "slow and fine-cooked food" was what the world needs.
According to William R. Rhodes, Senior Vice-Chairman of Citigroup, the People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, was working closely with the U.S. Federal Reserve on a series of measures to contain the impact of financial crisis. CBRC was also in close consultation with the Fed.
Source: Xinhua
Liu made the remarks at the ongoing 2008 Summer Davos forum, also known as the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2008, which kicked off on Saturday in the north China metropolis of Tianjin.
Though feeling gloomy about the outlook of the world economy, most attendees were confident about China's economic prospects.
"China has full confidence and capabilities to ensure sound and fast economic growth for a long period of time," Premier Wen Jiabao said at the opening ceremony.
Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, said China is still a fast growing economy and maylead the world economy in the future.
But for now, as the financial market globalizes, no country could escape the financial crisis, Liu said.
He forecast the annual economic growth would slow to between 9 percent or 9.5 percent, as falling consumer spending in Europe and the United States cut export demands. China's economy expanded 11.9 percent last year.
"This is not a bad thing for China," Liu said, "China needs not only speed, but also quality."
"We had more room to boost growth as consumption and investment demands could make up for the falling exports," Liu said.
Speaking about the U.S. government's 700 billion dollar bailout package, Liu said, it would boost market confidence, but not enough for a cure.
He compared the proposed rescue plan to convenient "fast food", and said "slow and fine-cooked food" was what the world needs.
According to William R. Rhodes, Senior Vice-Chairman of Citigroup, the People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, was working closely with the U.S. Federal Reserve on a series of measures to contain the impact of financial crisis. CBRC was also in close consultation with the Fed.
Source: Xinhua
Chinese rice production regions urged to guard against cold dew wind
China's Ministry of Agriculture warned on Saturday that the country's late rice production areas should be alert to the cold dew wind that may affect crop harvests in the following days.
China Meteorological Administration forecasted a temperature drop to the tune of 4 to 6 degrees centigrade in some central and eastern provinces. The CMA also predicted cold dew wind in northern parts of central Hunan and Jiangxi provinces, said the MOA in an urgent notice on its official website www.agri.gov.cn.
"Local agricultural authorities should formulate emergency plans, strengthen rice paddy management and take effective measures to reduce damages from the low temperature in autumn," said the notice.
The middle and late October is the harvest season for late rice in most of the production areas nationwide.
CMA also said on Saturday that it would be clear or cloudy in most northern areas before Oct. 3 and suitable for traveling during the coming one-week National Day holiday which starts from Sept. 29.
Source: Xinhua
China Meteorological Administration forecasted a temperature drop to the tune of 4 to 6 degrees centigrade in some central and eastern provinces. The CMA also predicted cold dew wind in northern parts of central Hunan and Jiangxi provinces, said the MOA in an urgent notice on its official website www.agri.gov.cn.
"Local agricultural authorities should formulate emergency plans, strengthen rice paddy management and take effective measures to reduce damages from the low temperature in autumn," said the notice.
The middle and late October is the harvest season for late rice in most of the production areas nationwide.
CMA also said on Saturday that it would be clear or cloudy in most northern areas before Oct. 3 and suitable for traveling during the coming one-week National Day holiday which starts from Sept. 29.
Source: Xinhua
Chinese premier urges exporters to develop their own brands
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Saturday called on domestic exporters to develop their own brands and intellectual property rights and improve product quality.
In a brief meeting with the entrepreneurs attending the 2008 Summer Davos, also known as the Annual Meeting of New Champions, Wen acknowledged that China's exports have been growing very quickly, but they do lack brands and their own IPRs in particular.
"The competition in the current world is actually decided by intellectual property rights," he told the entrepreneurs shortly before addressing the opening ceremony of the economic forum organized by the prestigious World Economic Forum.
Wen said he believed the intelligent Chinese people would finally be able to build their own brand names for exports, if provided with right policies and a liberal and equal environment.
But the premier also warned that "it is going to be a tough process."
Wen also exchanged views on China's macro-economic policies and food safety as well as the current financial crisis with the entrepreneurs.
Source: Xinhua
In a brief meeting with the entrepreneurs attending the 2008 Summer Davos, also known as the Annual Meeting of New Champions, Wen acknowledged that China's exports have been growing very quickly, but they do lack brands and their own IPRs in particular.
"The competition in the current world is actually decided by intellectual property rights," he told the entrepreneurs shortly before addressing the opening ceremony of the economic forum organized by the prestigious World Economic Forum.
Wen said he believed the intelligent Chinese people would finally be able to build their own brand names for exports, if provided with right policies and a liberal and equal environment.
But the premier also warned that "it is going to be a tough process."
Wen also exchanged views on China's macro-economic policies and food safety as well as the current financial crisis with the entrepreneurs.
Source: Xinhua
2 space experiments with numerous breakthroughs
When the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft had made 29th orbit, Chinese Taikonaut Zhai Zhigang slipped out of the orbital module and collected after accomplishing a "space walk" the test examples of solid lubricant and solar cell base panel placed outside the orbit module and, when the spacecraft had made 31st orbit, an 88-pound satellite was released, which would circle the orbital module and send back images to mission control command.
For these feats, People's Daily reporters Liao Wengen and Yu Jianbin have had an exclusive interview with Zhao Guangheng, deputy chief designer of China's manned space program's application system, on these amazing experiments and the related topics.
Reporter: For what deliberations do you introduce solid lubricant, and what is its size and how much does it weight?
Zhao: The designed solid lubricant is based on meticulous thoughts and careful considerations from several aspects: The first is to facilitate the spaceman's operation; the second to meet a demand for high efficiency of both spacemen and spacecraft; and the third to ensure that it is safe without any harm to be done to spacemen and it is also reliable in the whole process of the blast-off, in-orbit moving and spacemen's recovery of material.
The installation, in the form of 170 by 100 by 210 mm., weights three kilograms in itself and the specimen recovered is merely 2.3 kg in weight after being removed from the installation seat on the orbit module.
Reporter: Why do you take to use these two types of materials for the space-exposed test?
Zhao: This is China's first-ever space-exposed test of solid lubricant and solar cell panel. These two types of materials have been put in wide use on spaceflight vehicles, and it can be said that there is no choice but to use them on space aircraft.
Common lubricants can be volatile easily in the vacuum conditions and so solid lubricants have to be used. The lubricant used for the test on the space module comprises 11 varieties in four major categories, comprising those we have put to use before or we are now using, and also those we will possibly to put to use in years ahead, including some materrials yet to be utilized overseas.
Solar cells are used in all spaceflight vehicles, and how to make solar cell base more reliable with a longer lifespan, what impact the outer space environment will have on the base materials and what filmy stuff is more suitable for use in outer space? So I feel it imperative to carry out the space test of these materials, a suggestion made by the 8th Academy of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation .
Reporter: What environmental factors should we attach importance to the space-exposed test?
Zhao: Close attention should be given chiefly to the impact of two environmental factors: One is the impact of atomic oxygen in rarefied air as the high-speed inflow of atomic oxygen will erode to some extent a polymer that contains inorganic material. The other is the ultra-violent radiation, as many materials in the outer space can possibly decay from prolonged the ultra-violent radiation due to much stronger radiation from ultra-violent light and cosmic rays.
The taikonaut has recovered the installation during his extravehicular activities with an implication that related researches will continue on the ground, and it needs to take into account whether environmental factors will impact on materials in the course of experiments. It seems that the two-day-impact of atomic oxygen has been reflected, and ground tests can already back up and testify to this point.
Contents of the future outer space tests are not just confined to this realm. The trial-test has another purpose, that is, to guide ways and means of setting up modules with the help of outer space researches, and the setting up of ground module models will help guide the selection of the future materials and the application in space.
Reporter: How was the accompanying satellite released, and what was its mission?
Zhao: The satellite was released via two methods, that is, by both ground remote control and the hand-control by spacemen. The flight of the small satellite has three tasks to fulfill, namely, to test the in-orbit release technology, to take photos and transmit video images, and to experiment on the technology relating to the accompanying flight.
Reporter: What difficulties and challenges does the accompanying flight involve?
Zhao: Accompanying flight has certain difficulties and challenges. To make sure the satellite moves round the projected orbit, accurate orbit control has to be performed, so that it will be able to attain the goal for the flying around the "no-cooperation target", and this constitutes a breakthrough in technology.
Reporter: what other significances does the accompanying satellite have?
Zhao: As far as a manned space program is concerned, the significance of the satellite released can be shown mainly in the ensuing spheres: the first to monitor all EVA situations of the manned spacecraft so as to provide a test platform of experimental verification of environmental control and life support system on the manned spacecraft; secondly to provide some experience for spacecraft rendezvous and docking ; and thirdly to greatly raise the capacity of extending the area of space science and space application as we now have composite spaceflight vehicles, both parent and subsidiary spacecraft.
By People's Daily Online
For these feats, People's Daily reporters Liao Wengen and Yu Jianbin have had an exclusive interview with Zhao Guangheng, deputy chief designer of China's manned space program's application system, on these amazing experiments and the related topics.
Reporter: For what deliberations do you introduce solid lubricant, and what is its size and how much does it weight?
Zhao: The designed solid lubricant is based on meticulous thoughts and careful considerations from several aspects: The first is to facilitate the spaceman's operation; the second to meet a demand for high efficiency of both spacemen and spacecraft; and the third to ensure that it is safe without any harm to be done to spacemen and it is also reliable in the whole process of the blast-off, in-orbit moving and spacemen's recovery of material.
The installation, in the form of 170 by 100 by 210 mm., weights three kilograms in itself and the specimen recovered is merely 2.3 kg in weight after being removed from the installation seat on the orbit module.
Reporter: Why do you take to use these two types of materials for the space-exposed test?
Zhao: This is China's first-ever space-exposed test of solid lubricant and solar cell panel. These two types of materials have been put in wide use on spaceflight vehicles, and it can be said that there is no choice but to use them on space aircraft.
Common lubricants can be volatile easily in the vacuum conditions and so solid lubricants have to be used. The lubricant used for the test on the space module comprises 11 varieties in four major categories, comprising those we have put to use before or we are now using, and also those we will possibly to put to use in years ahead, including some materrials yet to be utilized overseas.
Solar cells are used in all spaceflight vehicles, and how to make solar cell base more reliable with a longer lifespan, what impact the outer space environment will have on the base materials and what filmy stuff is more suitable for use in outer space? So I feel it imperative to carry out the space test of these materials, a suggestion made by the 8th Academy of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation .
Reporter: What environmental factors should we attach importance to the space-exposed test?
Zhao: Close attention should be given chiefly to the impact of two environmental factors: One is the impact of atomic oxygen in rarefied air as the high-speed inflow of atomic oxygen will erode to some extent a polymer that contains inorganic material. The other is the ultra-violent radiation, as many materials in the outer space can possibly decay from prolonged the ultra-violent radiation due to much stronger radiation from ultra-violent light and cosmic rays.
The taikonaut has recovered the installation during his extravehicular activities with an implication that related researches will continue on the ground, and it needs to take into account whether environmental factors will impact on materials in the course of experiments. It seems that the two-day-impact of atomic oxygen has been reflected, and ground tests can already back up and testify to this point.
Contents of the future outer space tests are not just confined to this realm. The trial-test has another purpose, that is, to guide ways and means of setting up modules with the help of outer space researches, and the setting up of ground module models will help guide the selection of the future materials and the application in space.
Reporter: How was the accompanying satellite released, and what was its mission?
Zhao: The satellite was released via two methods, that is, by both ground remote control and the hand-control by spacemen. The flight of the small satellite has three tasks to fulfill, namely, to test the in-orbit release technology, to take photos and transmit video images, and to experiment on the technology relating to the accompanying flight.
Reporter: What difficulties and challenges does the accompanying flight involve?
Zhao: Accompanying flight has certain difficulties and challenges. To make sure the satellite moves round the projected orbit, accurate orbit control has to be performed, so that it will be able to attain the goal for the flying around the "no-cooperation target", and this constitutes a breakthrough in technology.
Reporter: what other significances does the accompanying satellite have?
Zhao: As far as a manned space program is concerned, the significance of the satellite released can be shown mainly in the ensuing spheres: the first to monitor all EVA situations of the manned spacecraft so as to provide a test platform of experimental verification of environmental control and life support system on the manned spacecraft; secondly to provide some experience for spacecraft rendezvous and docking ; and thirdly to greatly raise the capacity of extending the area of space science and space application as we now have composite spaceflight vehicles, both parent and subsidiary spacecraft.
By People's Daily Online
DPRK accuses U.S. of breaking six-party nuclear agreement
The DPRK Vice Foreign Minister Pak Kil Yon, in a speech to the UN General Assembly's general debate on Saturday, accused the United States of breaking a six-party nuclear agreement and vowed to take countermeasures.
"The U.S. has laid an artificial obstacle to implementing the October 3 agreement by refusing to implement her obligations and put forward such an unjust demand as verification of the ' international standard' never agreed on among the six parties or between the DPRK and the U.S.," the DPRK high official said, referring to the nuclear agreement reached by the six parties in Beijing on Oct. 3, 2007.
"The 'international standard' asserted by the U.S. is nothing but 'special inspection' which the IAEA called for in the 1990s to infringe upon the sovereignty of the DPRK and caused it to pull out of the NPT in the end," he said.
"Now that the U.S. has broken the agreement, the DPRK is inevitably taking relevant countermeasures on the basis of the principle of 'action for action,'" the DPRK official said.
Under the 2007 nuclear deal, the DPRK pledged to disable its nuclear program in a step toward its eventual disarmament in exchange for diplomatic concessions and energy aid. But the accord has been stalled due to disputes over the verification of a nuclear declaration between the DPRK and the United States.
Source:Xinhua
"The U.S. has laid an artificial obstacle to implementing the October 3 agreement by refusing to implement her obligations and put forward such an unjust demand as verification of the ' international standard' never agreed on among the six parties or between the DPRK and the U.S.," the DPRK high official said, referring to the nuclear agreement reached by the six parties in Beijing on Oct. 3, 2007.
"The 'international standard' asserted by the U.S. is nothing but 'special inspection' which the IAEA called for in the 1990s to infringe upon the sovereignty of the DPRK and caused it to pull out of the NPT in the end," he said.
"Now that the U.S. has broken the agreement, the DPRK is inevitably taking relevant countermeasures on the basis of the principle of 'action for action,'" the DPRK official said.
Under the 2007 nuclear deal, the DPRK pledged to disable its nuclear program in a step toward its eventual disarmament in exchange for diplomatic concessions and energy aid. But the accord has been stalled due to disputes over the verification of a nuclear declaration between the DPRK and the United States.
Source:Xinhua
Chinese gov't: no melamine detected in 296 tests in last fortnight
No melamine was detected in 296 government tests of China's major brands of liquid milk and yogurt products over the past two weeks, China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said on Friday.
The agency said starting from Sept. 14, it had conducted checks on 296 batches of liquid milk and yogurt products from 47 brands -including Yili, Mengniu, Guangming among others - across the country's major cities, with no melamine found.
This came after AQSIQ ordered a nationwide inspection of baby milk powder on Sept. 11, after media reported on Sept. 9 that dairy products produced by Sanlu and other leading Chinese brands contained melamine and had caused the deaths of at least three babies, and sickened about 53,000 others.
As of Sept. 23, almost 13,000 infants nationwide were hospitalized with kidney problems as a result of drinking milk contaminated with melamine.
AQSIQ also ordered shopping malls and supermarkets across the country to display lists of safe dairy producers and products, and to put SAFE tags on products, starting from Sept. 18.
Meanwhile, products found containing melamine were recalled and removed from shelves and a total of 7,074 tonnes of tainted dairy products had been removed from retail outlets across China as of Sept. 23, according to the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.
But amid the melamine-free check results on liquid milk and yogurt products, producer of China's brand name candy "White Rabbit" announced on Friday it would halt domestic sales of its milk candy products, because of reports that its exported candies to Singapore contained melamine.
Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming plays with a baby held in the arms of his father who came to buy milk products at a supermarket in Beijing, Sept. 26, 2008. Chen inspected liquid milk and yogurt products in supermarkets and wholesale markets and held talks with representatives from related enterprises on Friday as the National Day holiday draws near.
Guanshengyuan, the Shanghai-based candy firm, said it had previously recalled all exports, some of which tested positive for melamine.
According to a Thursday report by the 21st Century Business Herald, Guangming, the parent company of Guangshengyuan, said it would not make any comments until official test results of its products were issued.
Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming plays with a baby held in the arms of his father who came to buy milk products at a supermarket in Beijing, Sept. 26, 2008. Chen inspected liquid milk and yogurt products in supermarkets and wholesale markets and held talks with representatives from related enterprises on Friday as the National Day holiday draws near.
Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming said on Friday that the country was endeavoring to boost consumers' confidence in domestically-produced dairy products during his inspection of supermarkets and wholesale markets in the country's capital city.
"The key does not lie in our words, but our deeds," Chen added.
Source: Xinhua
The agency said starting from Sept. 14, it had conducted checks on 296 batches of liquid milk and yogurt products from 47 brands -including Yili, Mengniu, Guangming among others - across the country's major cities, with no melamine found.
This came after AQSIQ ordered a nationwide inspection of baby milk powder on Sept. 11, after media reported on Sept. 9 that dairy products produced by Sanlu and other leading Chinese brands contained melamine and had caused the deaths of at least three babies, and sickened about 53,000 others.
As of Sept. 23, almost 13,000 infants nationwide were hospitalized with kidney problems as a result of drinking milk contaminated with melamine.
AQSIQ also ordered shopping malls and supermarkets across the country to display lists of safe dairy producers and products, and to put SAFE tags on products, starting from Sept. 18.
Meanwhile, products found containing melamine were recalled and removed from shelves and a total of 7,074 tonnes of tainted dairy products had been removed from retail outlets across China as of Sept. 23, according to the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.
But amid the melamine-free check results on liquid milk and yogurt products, producer of China's brand name candy "White Rabbit" announced on Friday it would halt domestic sales of its milk candy products, because of reports that its exported candies to Singapore contained melamine.
Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming plays with a baby held in the arms of his father who came to buy milk products at a supermarket in Beijing, Sept. 26, 2008. Chen inspected liquid milk and yogurt products in supermarkets and wholesale markets and held talks with representatives from related enterprises on Friday as the National Day holiday draws near.
Guanshengyuan, the Shanghai-based candy firm, said it had previously recalled all exports, some of which tested positive for melamine.
According to a Thursday report by the 21st Century Business Herald, Guangming, the parent company of Guangshengyuan, said it would not make any comments until official test results of its products were issued.
Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming plays with a baby held in the arms of his father who came to buy milk products at a supermarket in Beijing, Sept. 26, 2008. Chen inspected liquid milk and yogurt products in supermarkets and wholesale markets and held talks with representatives from related enterprises on Friday as the National Day holiday draws near.
Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming said on Friday that the country was endeavoring to boost consumers' confidence in domestically-produced dairy products during his inspection of supermarkets and wholesale markets in the country's capital city.
"The key does not lie in our words, but our deeds," Chen added.
Source: Xinhua
N China city continues health check on kids fed baby milk formula
Health authority of Shijiazhuang City in Hebei Province said it would continue health checkup on babies fed with baby milk powder to ensure that sick kids could be treated timely.
The city had checked 232,988 children who were born during or after 2006 and were fed baby formula from Sept. 15 to Sept. 26. Out of those checked, 113,767 kids were fed baby formula made by Sanlu dairy group, the company at the heart of the contamination scandal.
A total of 3,650 children were diagnosed as being sicken after drinking baby formula tainted with the chemical melamine, said Wen Honghai, chief of the health department of Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei Province.
Daily checkups decreased from the peak of more than 42,000 babies to 8,750 babies, said Wen.
"We will not loosen checkup so that every sick kid can be treated timely and effectively," Wen said. The government offered free health checkup to babies.
The State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine announced last Tuesday it had found the chemical melamine in 69 batches of baby milk powder produced by 22companies nationwide.
The agency issued a watch-list of the 22 companies and their tainted products on the same day. The authorities also ordered a halt to the sale of the products, including the well-known brands of Shijiazhuang-based Sanlu, Mengniu, Yili and Yashili, among others.
Melamine is a chemical used to make plastics. Experts say it was added illegally to watered-down raw milk to make it appear as if there was a high protein content.
The tainted milk is known to have killed at least three babies and left 13,000 others hospitalized with kidney problems in the country.
Source: Xinhua
The city had checked 232,988 children who were born during or after 2006 and were fed baby formula from Sept. 15 to Sept. 26. Out of those checked, 113,767 kids were fed baby formula made by Sanlu dairy group, the company at the heart of the contamination scandal.
A total of 3,650 children were diagnosed as being sicken after drinking baby formula tainted with the chemical melamine, said Wen Honghai, chief of the health department of Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei Province.
Daily checkups decreased from the peak of more than 42,000 babies to 8,750 babies, said Wen.
"We will not loosen checkup so that every sick kid can be treated timely and effectively," Wen said. The government offered free health checkup to babies.
The State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine announced last Tuesday it had found the chemical melamine in 69 batches of baby milk powder produced by 22companies nationwide.
The agency issued a watch-list of the 22 companies and their tainted products on the same day. The authorities also ordered a halt to the sale of the products, including the well-known brands of Shijiazhuang-based Sanlu, Mengniu, Yili and Yashili, among others.
Melamine is a chemical used to make plastics. Experts say it was added illegally to watered-down raw milk to make it appear as if there was a high protein content.
The tainted milk is known to have killed at least three babies and left 13,000 others hospitalized with kidney problems in the country.
Source: Xinhua
Macao holds tray race to celebrate World Tourism Day
Over 100 waiters and waitresses from various hotels in Macao Saturday ran down the city's streets in a tray race which was local event held to celebrate the World Tourism Day.
The traditional race, organized by the Macao Special Administration Region Government Tourist Office , attracted a record number of participants this year, with a total of 185 waiters and waitresses from 29 local hotels and restaurants.
The waiters and waitresses, carrying a tray with a beer on it, ran through the stoned-path from the Ruins of St. Paul's to the Senado Square, both of which were World heritage sites.
World Tourism Organization , in the third session of its General Assembly in Spain , decided to commemorate September 27 as "World Tourism Day" each year. This is the 29th year since the celebrations commenced in 1980.
This year's theme is "Tourism Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change". The host country for "World Tourism Day 2008" is Peru and official celebrations were held on Sept. 27. Many other countries and regions also carried out activities to celebrate the day.
Source: Xinhua
The traditional race, organized by the Macao Special Administration Region Government Tourist Office , attracted a record number of participants this year, with a total of 185 waiters and waitresses from 29 local hotels and restaurants.
The waiters and waitresses, carrying a tray with a beer on it, ran through the stoned-path from the Ruins of St. Paul's to the Senado Square, both of which were World heritage sites.
World Tourism Organization , in the third session of its General Assembly in Spain , decided to commemorate September 27 as "World Tourism Day" each year. This is the 29th year since the celebrations commenced in 1980.
This year's theme is "Tourism Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change". The host country for "World Tourism Day 2008" is Peru and official celebrations were held on Sept. 27. Many other countries and regions also carried out activities to celebrate the day.
Source: Xinhua
World Confucian Conference opens first session in China
The First Session of the World Confucian Conference opened on Saturday in the eastern Chinese city of Qufu, the hometown of the great ancient thinker and philosopher.
More than 170 scholars from 22 countries and region are expected to exchange ideas about their studies on Confucianism during the three-day event.
The conference was organized by the Ministry of Culture and the Shandong provincial government.
A cultural festival will also be held in Qufu to commemorate the 2,559 birthday of Confucius, which falls on Sept. 28.
Confucius, born in 551 BC, was the founder of Confucianism, which advocates the building of a harmonious society through an individual's self-refinement in manners and taste.
Confucianism dominated Chinese society for centuries, and spread to Europe in the late 16th century.
Scholars and believers around the world commemorate Confucius' birth in Qufu every year to carry forward the Confucian spirit of benevolence and honor.
Source: Xinhua
More than 170 scholars from 22 countries and region are expected to exchange ideas about their studies on Confucianism during the three-day event.
The conference was organized by the Ministry of Culture and the Shandong provincial government.
A cultural festival will also be held in Qufu to commemorate the 2,559 birthday of Confucius, which falls on Sept. 28.
Confucius, born in 551 BC, was the founder of Confucianism, which advocates the building of a harmonious society through an individual's self-refinement in manners and taste.
Confucianism dominated Chinese society for centuries, and spread to Europe in the late 16th century.
Scholars and believers around the world commemorate Confucius' birth in Qufu every year to carry forward the Confucian spirit of benevolence and honor.
Source: Xinhua
Three samples of biscuit found melamine in Hong Kong
The Center for Food Safety of Hong Kong released on Saturday the latest batch of results of melamine tests on dairy products and baby food.
Three samples of biscuit and a sample of milk biscuit were found unsatisfactory.
Among 145 samples tested, including cakes, bread, milk and milk beverages produced locally; Chinese mainland frozen confections, raw milk, milk and milk beverages; coffee creamer produced on the mainland and overseas; and milk powder and baby food from overseas,141 were satisfactory.
But Lotte Koala Strawberry Biscuit, Lotte Koala's March Chocolate Biscuit and Lotte Koala Biscuit were found with a melamine level of 3ppm detected.
In addition, a sample of milk biscuit was found unsatisfactory with a melamine level of 3ppm. The sample was collected by the CFS following up with public's food complaint.
Under the Harmful Substances in Food Regulation 2008 which took effect on September 23, the legal limit for melamine in the above biscuits and milk biscuit is 2.5ppm.
"Based on the levels detected, the public is advised to stop consuming the products concerned," a spokesman for the CFS said.
"We have already informed the trade of the test results and asked them to stop selling the products concerned. We have also sent warning letters to the retailers and importers concerned, and the importers will recall the affected products. The CFS will takeout prosecution if there is sufficient evidence," he added.
Up till now, CFS have test a total of 66 infant formula and all were satisfactory. In addition, of the 45 baby food samples tested,44 were satisfactory and the unsatisfactory sample was announced on Saturday.
"We are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to collect baby food, other dairy products and products with dairy ingredients for testing," the spokesman said.
Source: Xinhua
Three samples of biscuit and a sample of milk biscuit were found unsatisfactory.
Among 145 samples tested, including cakes, bread, milk and milk beverages produced locally; Chinese mainland frozen confections, raw milk, milk and milk beverages; coffee creamer produced on the mainland and overseas; and milk powder and baby food from overseas,141 were satisfactory.
But Lotte Koala Strawberry Biscuit, Lotte Koala's March Chocolate Biscuit and Lotte Koala Biscuit were found with a melamine level of 3ppm detected.
In addition, a sample of milk biscuit was found unsatisfactory with a melamine level of 3ppm. The sample was collected by the CFS following up with public's food complaint.
Under the Harmful Substances in Food Regulation 2008 which took effect on September 23, the legal limit for melamine in the above biscuits and milk biscuit is 2.5ppm.
"Based on the levels detected, the public is advised to stop consuming the products concerned," a spokesman for the CFS said.
"We have already informed the trade of the test results and asked them to stop selling the products concerned. We have also sent warning letters to the retailers and importers concerned, and the importers will recall the affected products. The CFS will takeout prosecution if there is sufficient evidence," he added.
Up till now, CFS have test a total of 66 infant formula and all were satisfactory. In addition, of the 45 baby food samples tested,44 were satisfactory and the unsatisfactory sample was announced on Saturday.
"We are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to collect baby food, other dairy products and products with dairy ingredients for testing," the spokesman said.
Source: Xinhua
Exploring the mystery of the cliff-face caves
Mystery surrounds more than 100 caves on the sheer cliff face of a peaceful gorge in Yanqing district.
There is no written record of the origin or history of the Guyaju cave complex in Zhangshanying town, 92 km north of Beijing. But they comprise the largest network of known cliff residences in the country.
The caves are a honeycomb of rooms of different shapes and sizes outfitted with doors, windows, kitchens and closets.
Some of the quadrangular rooms, ranging in size from 3 to 20 sq m, are interlinked with vertical passages, while horizontal passages connect others. Some of the "houses" feature two to three rooms, while others only have a single compartment.
Visitors who wander among the rooms will see tables, stools and even a kang carved from stone.
Any characters or murals that might have once covered the walls of the dwelling have vanished, leaving historians to scratch their heads about who lived here and when.
Some believe it was built in the Tang Dynasty , while others contend it was during the Liao Dynasty .
Still others say it was a lair for bandits, or a military shelter, or a place for Xi tribe to hide during wartime.
But most agree the grottos are about 1,000 years old.
The most intriguing of these caverns contains a two-story stone house propped up by six intricately carved pillars.
One wing contains a small room with lampshades, hearths, closets and mangers all made of stone. The structures' windows and gates serve as eerie reminders that it was once a dwelling place for ancient inhabitants.
Different stories are connected with stone steps and stone ladders. From these, visitors can take in breathtaking panoramic vistas of the gorge area.
Source: China Daily
There is no written record of the origin or history of the Guyaju cave complex in Zhangshanying town, 92 km north of Beijing. But they comprise the largest network of known cliff residences in the country.
The caves are a honeycomb of rooms of different shapes and sizes outfitted with doors, windows, kitchens and closets.
Some of the quadrangular rooms, ranging in size from 3 to 20 sq m, are interlinked with vertical passages, while horizontal passages connect others. Some of the "houses" feature two to three rooms, while others only have a single compartment.
Visitors who wander among the rooms will see tables, stools and even a kang carved from stone.
Any characters or murals that might have once covered the walls of the dwelling have vanished, leaving historians to scratch their heads about who lived here and when.
Some believe it was built in the Tang Dynasty , while others contend it was during the Liao Dynasty .
Still others say it was a lair for bandits, or a military shelter, or a place for Xi tribe to hide during wartime.
But most agree the grottos are about 1,000 years old.
The most intriguing of these caverns contains a two-story stone house propped up by six intricately carved pillars.
One wing contains a small room with lampshades, hearths, closets and mangers all made of stone. The structures' windows and gates serve as eerie reminders that it was once a dwelling place for ancient inhabitants.
Different stories are connected with stone steps and stone ladders. From these, visitors can take in breathtaking panoramic vistas of the gorge area.
Source: China Daily
First group of Chinese mainland tourists to travel to Taiwan
A tourism group from Chinese mainland made up of 259 members will leave for Taiwan on September 30 via Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu. Fujian province is now fully prepared for the trips, said Zhu Qing, spokesman of the Fujian Provincial People's Government.
Fujian Provincial Tourism Bureau, along with travel agencies in Fujian, Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu jointly offer 10 travel routes to Kinmen, Matsu, Penghu and the routes extend to Taiwan.
After more than half a month of preparation, 259 tourists from Chinese mainland will embark on trips to Kinmen, Matsu, Penghu and then to Taiwan, from Xiamen Dongdu wharf, Quanzhou Shijing wharf and Jinzhou wharf in Mawei of Fuzhou respectively.
By People's Daily Online
Fujian Provincial Tourism Bureau, along with travel agencies in Fujian, Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu jointly offer 10 travel routes to Kinmen, Matsu, Penghu and the routes extend to Taiwan.
After more than half a month of preparation, 259 tourists from Chinese mainland will embark on trips to Kinmen, Matsu, Penghu and then to Taiwan, from Xiamen Dongdu wharf, Quanzhou Shijing wharf and Jinzhou wharf in Mawei of Fuzhou respectively.
By People's Daily Online
President Hu says spacewalk a major breakthrough
The spacewalk performed by Chinese taikonauts Zhai Zhigang Saturday afternoon marks a major breakthrough in China's space program, Chinese President Hu Jintao said.
Hu talked with the trio taikonauts at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center for the Shenzhou-7 mission at 6:35 p.m. Saturday, when he inquired the physical conditions of the three taikonauts.
"Your country and your fellow citizens thank you for your devotion to the space program," he said.
He congratulated the trio over the success of the spacewalk, and encouraged them to continue the efforts for a "complete success.
Chinese President Hu Jintao talks on a phone that connected him at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center with astronauts on the spacecraft Shenzhou-7 in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 27, 2008.
Zhai Zhigang was assisted during the spacewalk by Liu Boming in the orbit module. China is the third country in the world to accomplish the feat after the United States and Russia.
Source: Xinhua
Hu talked with the trio taikonauts at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center for the Shenzhou-7 mission at 6:35 p.m. Saturday, when he inquired the physical conditions of the three taikonauts.
"Your country and your fellow citizens thank you for your devotion to the space program," he said.
He congratulated the trio over the success of the spacewalk, and encouraged them to continue the efforts for a "complete success.
Chinese President Hu Jintao talks on a phone that connected him at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center with astronauts on the spacecraft Shenzhou-7 in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 27, 2008.
Zhai Zhigang was assisted during the spacewalk by Liu Boming in the orbit module. China is the third country in the world to accomplish the feat after the United States and Russia.
Source: Xinhua
ESA expert praises China's first spacewalk
The performance of the Chinese astronauts in conducting China's first ever spacewalk looks very impressive, said Karl Bergquist, an expert with the European Space Agency in a telephone interview on Saturday.
"I have just seen the first Chinese extra-vehicular activity on the Website of Xinhua, It looks very impressive. The Chinese astronauts have done a nice job. I am really happy for China," said Bergquistam.
He also said, "There was a lot of interests in the European space community regarding the Sehnzhou-7 launch. We saw the launch at our office here at ESA and it was very impressing! We are also very confident about the success of China's first EVA."
"The success of China's first EVA means now China has finished two challenging tasks during this mission and will of course push forward the development of China's space industries," said Bergquist.
Karl Bergquist is an expert responsible for cooperation between ESA and China.
Source: Xinhua
"I have just seen the first Chinese extra-vehicular activity on the Website of Xinhua, It looks very impressive. The Chinese astronauts have done a nice job. I am really happy for China," said Bergquistam.
He also said, "There was a lot of interests in the European space community regarding the Sehnzhou-7 launch. We saw the launch at our office here at ESA and it was very impressing! We are also very confident about the success of China's first EVA."
"The success of China's first EVA means now China has finished two challenging tasks during this mission and will of course push forward the development of China's space industries," said Bergquist.
Karl Bergquist is an expert responsible for cooperation between ESA and China.
Source: Xinhua
Chinese remote sensing scientists work for Olympics
Chinese scientists have worked for Beijing Olympic organizers through monitoring Olympic venues' landscape and surrounding environment to help ensure a smooth Olympic Games.
"Based on remote sensing data from a U.S. satellite, we have monitored and analyzed the aerosol status in Beijing and surrounding areas, obtaining real-time information on pollution and its distribution mechanism," Lead scientist of the remote sensing project Guo Huadong said here Saturday in an interview with Xinhua.
Guo's team retrieved the scientific data collected by ground receivers from the moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer which was mounted on the U.S. satellite EOS-TERRA.
A few members of America's prestigious Institute of Electricaland Electronics Engineers also joined the collaboration.
"Utilizing the huge MODIS data, we can analyze reasons of pollution and suggest ways of dealing with the pollution for creating a nice Olympic environment," said Guo, who is also director of the Center for Earth Observation and Digital Earth of the Chinese Academy of Sciences .
In order to effectively assess landscape changes, the scientists compared the real-time data with the high-resolution airborne images in year 2002 and 2003 in the Olympic central area as well as the Landsat, another Earth-monitoring satellite, and images from 1983 until now, said Shao Yun, another key scientist for the project.
Financed by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology funds, the environmental remote sensing monitoring system for the 2008 Olympic Games was initiated for the dynamic inspection and continuous observation on the Olympic venues, construction sites and surrounding areas.
Gathering data from 1998 to 2008, the system consists of stereo observation from spaceborne, airborne and ground remote sensing means. It comprehensively surveyed ecological environment, engineering construction, environmental pollution and traffic flows.
Besides the service for the Beijing Olympics, the research team also provided airborne images of Sichuan after it was devastated by a disastrous earthquake on May 12. The images were used, together with other satellite images presented by the United States, for post-disaster damage assessment.
Source: Xinhua
"Based on remote sensing data from a U.S. satellite, we have monitored and analyzed the aerosol status in Beijing and surrounding areas, obtaining real-time information on pollution and its distribution mechanism," Lead scientist of the remote sensing project Guo Huadong said here Saturday in an interview with Xinhua.
Guo's team retrieved the scientific data collected by ground receivers from the moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer which was mounted on the U.S. satellite EOS-TERRA.
A few members of America's prestigious Institute of Electricaland Electronics Engineers also joined the collaboration.
"Utilizing the huge MODIS data, we can analyze reasons of pollution and suggest ways of dealing with the pollution for creating a nice Olympic environment," said Guo, who is also director of the Center for Earth Observation and Digital Earth of the Chinese Academy of Sciences .
In order to effectively assess landscape changes, the scientists compared the real-time data with the high-resolution airborne images in year 2002 and 2003 in the Olympic central area as well as the Landsat, another Earth-monitoring satellite, and images from 1983 until now, said Shao Yun, another key scientist for the project.
Financed by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology funds, the environmental remote sensing monitoring system for the 2008 Olympic Games was initiated for the dynamic inspection and continuous observation on the Olympic venues, construction sites and surrounding areas.
Gathering data from 1998 to 2008, the system consists of stereo observation from spaceborne, airborne and ground remote sensing means. It comprehensively surveyed ecological environment, engineering construction, environmental pollution and traffic flows.
Besides the service for the Beijing Olympics, the research team also provided airborne images of Sichuan after it was devastated by a disastrous earthquake on May 12. The images were used, together with other satellite images presented by the United States, for post-disaster damage assessment.
Source: Xinhua
Shenzhou-7 launches small monitoring satellite
China's third manned spaceship Shenzhou-7 launched a small monitoring satellite about two hours after an astronaut accomplished the country's first spacewalk Saturday afternoon.
The satellite, less than 40 kilograms in weight, will orbit the orbital module and send back the spaceship's first full video images.
It is equipped with two cameras that can capture clear images in a distance between four meters and two km, according to Shen Xuemin, deputy director of the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, developer of the satellite.
The accompanying satellite will observe and assist the main spaceship and work for communication, scientific experiment, earth and astronomy observation, he said.
"The task will test our ability to observe and control two objects in relative motion in space. Through this, we will prepare for the future orbiter docking," said Zhao Guangheng, deputy chief designer of the country's manned space program's space application system.
China will seek a breakthrough in the orbiter docking technology in its next manned spaceship Shenzhou-8, a step for the ultimate goal of building a permanent space laboratory.
Although China has managed to launch more than one satellites with one carrier rocket, it was the first time to monitor and control a satellite launched from a spaceship, said Lu Lichang, a designer of the program's remote control and communication system.
"To make sure the accompanying satellite orbits around the moving spaceship, we need to accurately monitor both the objects. It is quite difficult to work out control parameters of its motion," he said.
In addition, as the satellite is moving in a near-earth orbit, the control work is more vulnerable to atmosphere changes, he said.
Two possible accidents might occur. The small satellite may fail to function or move away from the planned track. "We have contingency plans," he said.
Source: Xinhua
The satellite, less than 40 kilograms in weight, will orbit the orbital module and send back the spaceship's first full video images.
It is equipped with two cameras that can capture clear images in a distance between four meters and two km, according to Shen Xuemin, deputy director of the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, developer of the satellite.
The accompanying satellite will observe and assist the main spaceship and work for communication, scientific experiment, earth and astronomy observation, he said.
"The task will test our ability to observe and control two objects in relative motion in space. Through this, we will prepare for the future orbiter docking," said Zhao Guangheng, deputy chief designer of the country's manned space program's space application system.
China will seek a breakthrough in the orbiter docking technology in its next manned spaceship Shenzhou-8, a step for the ultimate goal of building a permanent space laboratory.
Although China has managed to launch more than one satellites with one carrier rocket, it was the first time to monitor and control a satellite launched from a spaceship, said Lu Lichang, a designer of the program's remote control and communication system.
"To make sure the accompanying satellite orbits around the moving spaceship, we need to accurately monitor both the objects. It is quite difficult to work out control parameters of its motion," he said.
In addition, as the satellite is moving in a near-earth orbit, the control work is more vulnerable to atmosphere changes, he said.
Two possible accidents might occur. The small satellite may fail to function or move away from the planned track. "We have contingency plans," he said.
Source: Xinhua
"How did you feel like in space?", President Hu asks spacewalker
Chinese President Hu Jintao asked Chinese taikonauts what it was like walking in space in a conversation with them after the trio successfully realized the country's first-ever space walk on Saturday.
"How did you feel like in space after exiting the module?" asked smiling Hu, who was talking on a phone that connected him at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center with astronauts on the spacecraft Shenzhou-7.
"I felt superb," answered Zhai Zhigang, who carried out about 25 minutes of extra-vehicular activity about 343 km above the earth after floating out of the Shenzhou-7 cabin on Saturday afternoon.
"The process of taking on the Feitian spacesuit went smooth," said Zhai, looking confident and radiant on the screen at the BACC. "In the vast space, I felt proud of our motherland."
Hu congratulated the astronauts on the successful feat and encouraged them to carry on efforts to fulfill the mission.
"The thing I most want to know is how are you feeling now and how is your work going," Hu asked the trio.
"We feel well," said Zhai. "We conducted the space scientific tests as planned and the EVA went smoothly."
Hu hailed the spacewalk as a sign of the country's progress in space scientific technology.
"You have made outstanding contribution to our country's space project," said Hu. "The country and the Chinese people are grateful to you."
At 4:43 p.m. on Saturday, Zhai slipped out of the orbital module of Shenzhou-7 in a head-out-first position, wearing a 4-million-U.S.dollar homemade Feitian space suit.
China's first-ever spacewalk marked a remarkable progress in the country's ambitious space program, which will eventually lead to the establishment of a permanent space station.
Source: Xinhua
"How did you feel like in space after exiting the module?" asked smiling Hu, who was talking on a phone that connected him at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center with astronauts on the spacecraft Shenzhou-7.
"I felt superb," answered Zhai Zhigang, who carried out about 25 minutes of extra-vehicular activity about 343 km above the earth after floating out of the Shenzhou-7 cabin on Saturday afternoon.
"The process of taking on the Feitian spacesuit went smooth," said Zhai, looking confident and radiant on the screen at the BACC. "In the vast space, I felt proud of our motherland."
Hu congratulated the astronauts on the successful feat and encouraged them to carry on efforts to fulfill the mission.
"The thing I most want to know is how are you feeling now and how is your work going," Hu asked the trio.
"We feel well," said Zhai. "We conducted the space scientific tests as planned and the EVA went smoothly."
Hu hailed the spacewalk as a sign of the country's progress in space scientific technology.
"You have made outstanding contribution to our country's space project," said Hu. "The country and the Chinese people are grateful to you."
At 4:43 p.m. on Saturday, Zhai slipped out of the orbital module of Shenzhou-7 in a head-out-first position, wearing a 4-million-U.S.dollar homemade Feitian space suit.
China's first-ever spacewalk marked a remarkable progress in the country's ambitious space program, which will eventually lead to the establishment of a permanent space station.
Source: Xinhua
Taikonaut "walks" 9,165 kilometers in China's maiden spacewalk
China's first spacewalker Zhai Zhigang "walked" a total length of 9,165 kilometers in space during the country's maiden extra-vehicular activity which lasted about 20 minutes Saturday afternoon, according to experts' calculation.
That length equals about one fourth of the earth's circumference at the equator.
The spacewalk was broadcast live on television, with cameras mounted inside and outside the spacecraft.
Donning a 4-million-U.S.dollar homemade Feitian space suit, Zhai slipped out of the orbital module of Shenzhou-7 in a head-out-first position at around 4:43 p.m. .
"I feel well. I am here greeting the Chinese people and people of the whole world," Zhai, who is having his 42th birthday next month, said as he climbed out of the craft.
He then waved a small Chinese national flag handed by colleague Liu Boming, who also briefly emerged near the hatch.
After fetching a test sample of solid lubricant placed outside the orbital module, Zhai safely returned inside the craft, and made China the third country in the world to stage a successful spacewalk after the United States and Russia.
Source: Xinhua
That length equals about one fourth of the earth's circumference at the equator.
The spacewalk was broadcast live on television, with cameras mounted inside and outside the spacecraft.
Donning a 4-million-U.S.dollar homemade Feitian space suit, Zhai slipped out of the orbital module of Shenzhou-7 in a head-out-first position at around 4:43 p.m. .
"I feel well. I am here greeting the Chinese people and people of the whole world," Zhai, who is having his 42th birthday next month, said as he climbed out of the craft.
He then waved a small Chinese national flag handed by colleague Liu Boming, who also briefly emerged near the hatch.
After fetching a test sample of solid lubricant placed outside the orbital module, Zhai safely returned inside the craft, and made China the third country in the world to stage a successful spacewalk after the United States and Russia.
Source: Xinhua
China's first spacewalk attracts world attention
Chinese taikonauts completed the country's first spacewalk Saturday, a feat that immediately became the focus of attention around the world.
Vladimir Soloviev, flight control director of the Russian space mission control center and a former cosmonaut who also performed spacewalks, called on Russia and China to enhance cooperation and share their experiences in space exploration.
"A spacewalk faces a series of complicated technological difficulties. China's first spacewalk contributes a lot to the country's space technology and is also a great achievement for the whole world," he said.
China is a country with growing industrial strength, a booming economy and great scientific potential, which have made it necessary for China and Russia to join hands in space exploration, the cosmonaut added.
Karl Bergquist, an expert with the European Space Agency ,said the Chinese taikonauts' performance looked very impressive.
"I have just seen the first Chinese extra-vehicular activity on the website of Xinhua, It looks very impressive. The Chinese astronauts have done a nice job. I am really happy for China," Bergquist said.
"The success of China's first EVA means now China has finished two challenging tasks during this mission and will of course push forward the development of China's space industries," he added.
British media also closely followed China's first spacewalk.
The Times online carried a story with the headline "China celebrates its first spacewalk," calling it "the latest milestone in an ambitious program."
A story in The Telegraph, headlined "China carries out first spacewalk," said "the main purpose of the flight was to prepare the technical skills, including the docking of two orbiters together, necessary for the development of a Chinese space station."
"The mission was also considered an essential step towards a manned mission to the moon," it added.
The Guardian said "Zhai Zhigang today became the first Chinese person to walk in space, marking the highlight of his country's third manned mission."
"The maneuver is a step towards China's long-term goal of assembling a space laboratory and station," said the newspaper.
French daily Le Monde said on its website that the successful spacewalk indicates China has become a member of "the club of the world's space powers."
A story in Japan's Kyodo news agency said the 20-minute spacewalk was a historic step in China's space program.
The ability to carry out spacewalks is essential for the success of future Chinese space missions, aimed at building an orbiting space laboratory and space station, it added.
The Shenzhou-7 spacecraft, carrying three taikonauts, was launched Thursday night from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China.
On Saturday afternoon, taikonaut Zhai Zhigang floated out of Shenzhou-7, accomplishing China's first attempt at extra-vehicular activity in space.
Source: Xinhua
Vladimir Soloviev, flight control director of the Russian space mission control center and a former cosmonaut who also performed spacewalks, called on Russia and China to enhance cooperation and share their experiences in space exploration.
"A spacewalk faces a series of complicated technological difficulties. China's first spacewalk contributes a lot to the country's space technology and is also a great achievement for the whole world," he said.
China is a country with growing industrial strength, a booming economy and great scientific potential, which have made it necessary for China and Russia to join hands in space exploration, the cosmonaut added.
Karl Bergquist, an expert with the European Space Agency ,said the Chinese taikonauts' performance looked very impressive.
"I have just seen the first Chinese extra-vehicular activity on the website of Xinhua, It looks very impressive. The Chinese astronauts have done a nice job. I am really happy for China," Bergquist said.
"The success of China's first EVA means now China has finished two challenging tasks during this mission and will of course push forward the development of China's space industries," he added.
British media also closely followed China's first spacewalk.
The Times online carried a story with the headline "China celebrates its first spacewalk," calling it "the latest milestone in an ambitious program."
A story in The Telegraph, headlined "China carries out first spacewalk," said "the main purpose of the flight was to prepare the technical skills, including the docking of two orbiters together, necessary for the development of a Chinese space station."
"The mission was also considered an essential step towards a manned mission to the moon," it added.
The Guardian said "Zhai Zhigang today became the first Chinese person to walk in space, marking the highlight of his country's third manned mission."
"The maneuver is a step towards China's long-term goal of assembling a space laboratory and station," said the newspaper.
French daily Le Monde said on its website that the successful spacewalk indicates China has become a member of "the club of the world's space powers."
A story in Japan's Kyodo news agency said the 20-minute spacewalk was a historic step in China's space program.
The ability to carry out spacewalks is essential for the success of future Chinese space missions, aimed at building an orbiting space laboratory and space station, it added.
The Shenzhou-7 spacecraft, carrying three taikonauts, was launched Thursday night from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China.
On Saturday afternoon, taikonaut Zhai Zhigang floated out of Shenzhou-7, accomplishing China's first attempt at extra-vehicular activity in space.
Source: Xinhua
China to select new astronauts for future manned space mission
China will start the second round of astronauts selection to replenish a more demanding mission that will complete orbiter docking, said Deng Yibing, chief engineer of the astronaut training center on Saturday.
The selection will start after the Shenzhou-7 mission ends, which accomplished China's first spacewalk Saturday afternoon. Excellent candidates from the fresh team may be involved in the Shenzhou-10 mission, which will seek a breakthrough in the orbiter docking technology, a more demanding job, Deng told reporters in the news center of the Shenzhou-7 manned space program.
China picked the first batch of 14 astronauts in 1998 in preparation for the country's manned space flights. The country sent its first man into space in 2003 in the Shenzhou-5 spacecraft. Two years later, two men orbited the earth in Shenzhou-6. The current Shenzhou-7 mission carried three astronauts.
Some of the first 14 astronauts are still capable of fulfilling the Shenzhou-10 mission as their ages and skills will not be a problem," said Deng.
But some of them will have to retire because of age, said Huang Weifen, deputy designer of Shenzhou-7's astronaut system, on Saturday. The retired astronauts will join the training programs or the management team, according to Deng.
To master the orbiter docking technology, China's second step before the ultimate goal of building a permanent space station, is a very complicated job, and has higher demands on astronauts, Deng said.
As the docking has to be partly assisted by manual operation of astronauts, Deng said, they should be selected "very cautiously" and they have to go through "rigorous" training to qualify the mission.
The docking technology will first be tested on the unmanned Shenzhou-8 and Shenzhou-9 spacecraft. The manned mission will be launched if everything goes well, said Li Yuqing, a consultant of the spacecraft system of the Shenzhou-7 mission.
Aerospace expert may also have the chance to fly aboard Shenzhou-10, and the physical requirement for them will be less tougher than that for astronauts, said Huang Weifen.
Source: Xinhua
The selection will start after the Shenzhou-7 mission ends, which accomplished China's first spacewalk Saturday afternoon. Excellent candidates from the fresh team may be involved in the Shenzhou-10 mission, which will seek a breakthrough in the orbiter docking technology, a more demanding job, Deng told reporters in the news center of the Shenzhou-7 manned space program.
China picked the first batch of 14 astronauts in 1998 in preparation for the country's manned space flights. The country sent its first man into space in 2003 in the Shenzhou-5 spacecraft. Two years later, two men orbited the earth in Shenzhou-6. The current Shenzhou-7 mission carried three astronauts.
Some of the first 14 astronauts are still capable of fulfilling the Shenzhou-10 mission as their ages and skills will not be a problem," said Deng.
But some of them will have to retire because of age, said Huang Weifen, deputy designer of Shenzhou-7's astronaut system, on Saturday. The retired astronauts will join the training programs or the management team, according to Deng.
To master the orbiter docking technology, China's second step before the ultimate goal of building a permanent space station, is a very complicated job, and has higher demands on astronauts, Deng said.
As the docking has to be partly assisted by manual operation of astronauts, Deng said, they should be selected "very cautiously" and they have to go through "rigorous" training to qualify the mission.
The docking technology will first be tested on the unmanned Shenzhou-8 and Shenzhou-9 spacecraft. The manned mission will be launched if everything goes well, said Li Yuqing, a consultant of the spacecraft system of the Shenzhou-7 mission.
Aerospace expert may also have the chance to fly aboard Shenzhou-10, and the physical requirement for them will be less tougher than that for astronauts, said Huang Weifen.
Source: Xinhua
China's "Divine Vessel" carries nation to space of wonder
The high mountains that surrounded his village could never block Pan Chaoyong's wonder about a "divine vessel" that was flying 343 km above the earth.
The 30-year-old Dong ethnic minority in southwest China's Guizhou Province became curious about the interior design of Shenzhou-7 after he watched the launch of the country's third manned spacecraft on TV Thursday evening.
"I wish I could be in space someday, " the man said.
As taikonaut Zhai Zhigang floated out of the Shenzhou, or Divined Vessel, spacecraft, Saturday afternoon, millions of his countrymen like Pan held their breath when watching the live broadcast of China's first-ever spacewalk, a major breakthrough of the nation's ambitious manned space program.
While more than half of Chinese households had tuned in to the live telecast of Shenzhou-7's launch on Thursday, a larger audience was expected for the Saturday climax of the mission, according to an AGB Nielsen Media Research survey.
"It was all quiet but thrilling. We're witnessing history," said Shanghai-based computer technician Qu Yin after watching live broadcast of the spacewalk on television.
"I really wanted to cry when I saw the national flag Zhai waved in space and the red characters 'Feitian' on the homemade spacesuit he wore. I don't know why. They were distant but looked so close."
Many others even followed the spacecraft by car, like 42-year-old Kou Wen and other 12 astronomic buffs. They drove from Beijing to the neighboring Hebei Province to observe Shenzhou-7 on Thursday when it was launched, but missed it because of thick clouds. They made another futile attempt in suburb Beijing on Friday but decided to continue the effort Saturday night.
"It's like chasing the sun," Kou told Xinhua, beaming. "We will do it even if there is only a glimmer of hope, because this is a big thing for our country. It's different."
The group had organized observation of the previous three Shenzhou spacecraft. China launched the first Shenzhou spaceship in 1999 and the first manned one in 2003. Two flew in 2005.
China's manned space project has greatly boosted the Chinese people's fervor for astronomy, which has been the top interest of science readers for the past two years in a survey by the Chinese edition of European science magazine Science & Vie, said the magazine's chief editor Yan Feng.
"I used to be lonely as a space fan. The telescopes were poor and light and air pollution was bad," 44-year-old Yan recalled. "Now the fan group is much bigger. My facilities can almost rival those in foreign countries, for instance I have a global positioning system installed to my telescope."
With its economy forging ahead since the country adopted the reform and opening up policy 30 years ago, China's ambition in space exploration grew as it announced plans to eventually set up a permanent space station and launched its first lunar probe last year.
Although China's paces in space still lagged behind Russia and the United States, they meant a lot to the Chinese people as a sign of national strength, said Liu Cixin, who works as an engineer in a power plant in north China's Shanxi Province and writes the country's best selling science-fictions.
China has stated its space exploration is aimed at peaceful utilization and development of space resources.
Despite the pragmatism, Liu believed China's space program can let more and more ordinary Chinese cast their eyes into the deep universe out of pure curiosity or care for the humankind.
"The country's breakthrough in space has a more profound effect on the minds of the Chinese people than instant tangible benefits, just like the navigators in the 15th and 16th centuries who set sails looking for spice and gold but led to the merging of different continents," said Liu.
Meng Qingbin, a 25-year-old college student in Beijing, exulted in the moment when Zhai opened the hatch door and sun light was let into the module.
"The light was beautiful. I felt like being reborn as if I had slipped out into space myself," said Meng after watching the live telecast.
For professor Wu Yan at the Beijing Normal University, China's space walk crowned the country's efforts to liberate Chinese people from poverty and backwardness.
"We have been laboring on the earth for such a long time, but now we are flying in space," said Wu. "We'll not only stretch our body in the universe but also open up our mind."
Source: Xinhua
The 30-year-old Dong ethnic minority in southwest China's Guizhou Province became curious about the interior design of Shenzhou-7 after he watched the launch of the country's third manned spacecraft on TV Thursday evening.
"I wish I could be in space someday, " the man said.
As taikonaut Zhai Zhigang floated out of the Shenzhou, or Divined Vessel, spacecraft, Saturday afternoon, millions of his countrymen like Pan held their breath when watching the live broadcast of China's first-ever spacewalk, a major breakthrough of the nation's ambitious manned space program.
While more than half of Chinese households had tuned in to the live telecast of Shenzhou-7's launch on Thursday, a larger audience was expected for the Saturday climax of the mission, according to an AGB Nielsen Media Research survey.
"It was all quiet but thrilling. We're witnessing history," said Shanghai-based computer technician Qu Yin after watching live broadcast of the spacewalk on television.
"I really wanted to cry when I saw the national flag Zhai waved in space and the red characters 'Feitian' on the homemade spacesuit he wore. I don't know why. They were distant but looked so close."
Many others even followed the spacecraft by car, like 42-year-old Kou Wen and other 12 astronomic buffs. They drove from Beijing to the neighboring Hebei Province to observe Shenzhou-7 on Thursday when it was launched, but missed it because of thick clouds. They made another futile attempt in suburb Beijing on Friday but decided to continue the effort Saturday night.
"It's like chasing the sun," Kou told Xinhua, beaming. "We will do it even if there is only a glimmer of hope, because this is a big thing for our country. It's different."
The group had organized observation of the previous three Shenzhou spacecraft. China launched the first Shenzhou spaceship in 1999 and the first manned one in 2003. Two flew in 2005.
China's manned space project has greatly boosted the Chinese people's fervor for astronomy, which has been the top interest of science readers for the past two years in a survey by the Chinese edition of European science magazine Science & Vie, said the magazine's chief editor Yan Feng.
"I used to be lonely as a space fan. The telescopes were poor and light and air pollution was bad," 44-year-old Yan recalled. "Now the fan group is much bigger. My facilities can almost rival those in foreign countries, for instance I have a global positioning system installed to my telescope."
With its economy forging ahead since the country adopted the reform and opening up policy 30 years ago, China's ambition in space exploration grew as it announced plans to eventually set up a permanent space station and launched its first lunar probe last year.
Although China's paces in space still lagged behind Russia and the United States, they meant a lot to the Chinese people as a sign of national strength, said Liu Cixin, who works as an engineer in a power plant in north China's Shanxi Province and writes the country's best selling science-fictions.
China has stated its space exploration is aimed at peaceful utilization and development of space resources.
Despite the pragmatism, Liu believed China's space program can let more and more ordinary Chinese cast their eyes into the deep universe out of pure curiosity or care for the humankind.
"The country's breakthrough in space has a more profound effect on the minds of the Chinese people than instant tangible benefits, just like the navigators in the 15th and 16th centuries who set sails looking for spice and gold but led to the merging of different continents," said Liu.
Meng Qingbin, a 25-year-old college student in Beijing, exulted in the moment when Zhai opened the hatch door and sun light was let into the module.
"The light was beautiful. I felt like being reborn as if I had slipped out into space myself," said Meng after watching the live telecast.
For professor Wu Yan at the Beijing Normal University, China's space walk crowned the country's efforts to liberate Chinese people from poverty and backwardness.
"We have been laboring on the earth for such a long time, but now we are flying in space," said Wu. "We'll not only stretch our body in the universe but also open up our mind."
Source: Xinhua
China's first spacewalker
Although enclosed in a bulky spacesuit with face covered, Chinese astronaut Zhai Zhigang is becoming a familiar figure to all Chinese as a history maker.
Zhai's 20-minute stay in outer space was witnessed by millions of Chinese on the earth through live broadcast on Saturday afternoon.
Struggling to open the door, waving to the camera mounted on the spaceship's service module, holding up the national flag, handing the test sample to his colleague and hobbling back to the module, his every move was taking the breath of those sitting anxiously in front of their TVs.
"As a man with China's manned space program, watching Zhai Zhigang walking in space is like a mother watching her tottering child," said Deng Yibing, chief engineer of the China Astronaut Research and Training Center. "Even though the steps were still a little bit staggering, I am so happy and satisfied."
In a phone conversation with Chinese President Hu Jintao two hours after his spacewalk, Zhai looked confident and radiant on the screen at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center.
"I felt superb," said Zhai. "The process of taking on the Feitian spacesuit went smooth. In the vast space, I felt proud of our motherland."
Later, he was seen lying back on his seat, chatting with his two colleagues with smiles on his face.
Despite bearing a highly risky task and great expectation from his countrymen, Zhai is going easy from the beginning.
On Wednesday when the three-member crew debuted at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, he said in front of the TV camera, "Physically, mentally and technically, we are well prepared. Motherland and compatriots, please trust us."
Zhai made a V sign during the launch and played with the manual after the successful blastoff. People also watched him skillfully unpacking and assembling the complicated spacesuit and training hard before the walk.
The confident and relaxed attitude came from long and tough training of a veteran air force pilot and astronaut.
It took the 42-year-old Zhai 10 years to the short spacewalk. Like all his colleagues and astronauts in previous two manned space programs, he had served the country's air force before being selected into the program. He had made a safe flight record of 950hours as a pilot.
Among the 14 members selected in the program in 1998, he was the only one that entered the final candidate list for three times.
In 2003 and 2005, Zhai was dropped out. "He never looked upset," said Huang Weifen, deputy chief designer of the program's astronauts system, "But each time he would work much harder than before as if the motive inside him was growing stronger against every failure."
The chance fell on him this time due to his outstanding professional and psychological performance, said Huang. "He is mentally strong and good at handling emergencies."
Born in a farmer's family in northeastern Heilongjiang Province and the youngest of six children, Zhai might have never dreamed of wearing a spacesuit worth of 30 million yuan and strolling in space when he was a boy.
He thought of dropping out from school when his farther was sick and the whole family lived on his mother's small business to sell fried melon seeds. It was his mother that stopped him and encouraged him to continue school and join the air force.
"Our mother left the most influence on him," said his brother Zhiqiang. "He loved her very much."
Zhai has become a hero in his hometown. His posters were at all bus stations and even on billboards in the streets. His brother's home was decorated with balloons, ribbons and flags on Thursday when the spacecraft was launched.
Due to preparation for the space program, his family have not seen him for a long time. "We all wish him to successfully fulfill his task and come back safe," the brother said.
Among the three astronauts, Zhai is the most outgoing. He likes dancing and is good at calligraphy.
"He is a loving husband, lovely father and good son," said Zhang Shujing, Zhai's wife.
Zhang and their son Zhai Tianxiong watched the launch at the control center in Jiuquan on Thursday.
"I was nervous. My hands sweat," said his son in an on-line interview a day after the launch. "I learned he would be on board of the spaceship only a few days earlier than the public."
Recalling his father's farewell words, the boy said Zhai did not say anything serious. "He did not make any promise to us."
Wearing a pair of glass, the boy in middle school seemed not to follow his father's footstep. "I do not think of becoming an astronaut."
Source: Xinhua
Zhai's 20-minute stay in outer space was witnessed by millions of Chinese on the earth through live broadcast on Saturday afternoon.
Struggling to open the door, waving to the camera mounted on the spaceship's service module, holding up the national flag, handing the test sample to his colleague and hobbling back to the module, his every move was taking the breath of those sitting anxiously in front of their TVs.
"As a man with China's manned space program, watching Zhai Zhigang walking in space is like a mother watching her tottering child," said Deng Yibing, chief engineer of the China Astronaut Research and Training Center. "Even though the steps were still a little bit staggering, I am so happy and satisfied."
In a phone conversation with Chinese President Hu Jintao two hours after his spacewalk, Zhai looked confident and radiant on the screen at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center.
"I felt superb," said Zhai. "The process of taking on the Feitian spacesuit went smooth. In the vast space, I felt proud of our motherland."
Later, he was seen lying back on his seat, chatting with his two colleagues with smiles on his face.
Despite bearing a highly risky task and great expectation from his countrymen, Zhai is going easy from the beginning.
On Wednesday when the three-member crew debuted at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, he said in front of the TV camera, "Physically, mentally and technically, we are well prepared. Motherland and compatriots, please trust us."
Zhai made a V sign during the launch and played with the manual after the successful blastoff. People also watched him skillfully unpacking and assembling the complicated spacesuit and training hard before the walk.
The confident and relaxed attitude came from long and tough training of a veteran air force pilot and astronaut.
It took the 42-year-old Zhai 10 years to the short spacewalk. Like all his colleagues and astronauts in previous two manned space programs, he had served the country's air force before being selected into the program. He had made a safe flight record of 950hours as a pilot.
Among the 14 members selected in the program in 1998, he was the only one that entered the final candidate list for three times.
In 2003 and 2005, Zhai was dropped out. "He never looked upset," said Huang Weifen, deputy chief designer of the program's astronauts system, "But each time he would work much harder than before as if the motive inside him was growing stronger against every failure."
The chance fell on him this time due to his outstanding professional and psychological performance, said Huang. "He is mentally strong and good at handling emergencies."
Born in a farmer's family in northeastern Heilongjiang Province and the youngest of six children, Zhai might have never dreamed of wearing a spacesuit worth of 30 million yuan and strolling in space when he was a boy.
He thought of dropping out from school when his farther was sick and the whole family lived on his mother's small business to sell fried melon seeds. It was his mother that stopped him and encouraged him to continue school and join the air force.
"Our mother left the most influence on him," said his brother Zhiqiang. "He loved her very much."
Zhai has become a hero in his hometown. His posters were at all bus stations and even on billboards in the streets. His brother's home was decorated with balloons, ribbons and flags on Thursday when the spacecraft was launched.
Due to preparation for the space program, his family have not seen him for a long time. "We all wish him to successfully fulfill his task and come back safe," the brother said.
Among the three astronauts, Zhai is the most outgoing. He likes dancing and is good at calligraphy.
"He is a loving husband, lovely father and good son," said Zhang Shujing, Zhai's wife.
Zhang and their son Zhai Tianxiong watched the launch at the control center in Jiuquan on Thursday.
"I was nervous. My hands sweat," said his son in an on-line interview a day after the launch. "I learned he would be on board of the spaceship only a few days earlier than the public."
Recalling his father's farewell words, the boy said Zhai did not say anything serious. "He did not make any promise to us."
Wearing a pair of glass, the boy in middle school seemed not to follow his father's footstep. "I do not think of becoming an astronaut."
Source: Xinhua
Hu congratulates founding anniversary of national science university
Chinese President Hu Jintao sent a congratulatory letter to China's University of Science and Technology Saturday for the 50th anniversary of its founding.
USTC has made important contributions to the development of China's scientific and educational causes and China's socialist modernization, read the letter.
In the past half century, the university has trained a number of scientists and made many scientific breakthroughs, said Hu.
Hu urged more innovative teaching and scientific research, and called for efforts to build the school into a world class research university.
USTC is regarded as one of the most influential universities in China.It was founded in Beijing by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in September 1958. It moved to Hefei, capital of east Anhui Province, in 1970.
Source: Xinhua
USTC has made important contributions to the development of China's scientific and educational causes and China's socialist modernization, read the letter.
In the past half century, the university has trained a number of scientists and made many scientific breakthroughs, said Hu.
Hu urged more innovative teaching and scientific research, and called for efforts to build the school into a world class research university.
USTC is regarded as one of the most influential universities in China.It was founded in Beijing by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in September 1958. It moved to Hefei, capital of east Anhui Province, in 1970.
Source: Xinhua
Chinese astronauts preparing for return to earth
Chinese astronauts onboard the spacecraft Shenzhou-7 started preparing on Sunday morning for the return trip to the earth after accomplishing China's first spacewalk on Saturday afternoon.
The three taikonauts were taking on in-cabin space suits at 11:10 a.m. and control data for the return trip would be sent to the spacecraft.
The Shenzhou-7 spacecraft took off from northwest China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 9:10 p.m. on Thursday, and is scheduled to land on the Inner Mongolia steppe at about 5:40 p.m. on Sunday.
Source: Xinhua
The three taikonauts were taking on in-cabin space suits at 11:10 a.m. and control data for the return trip would be sent to the spacecraft.
The Shenzhou-7 spacecraft took off from northwest China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 9:10 p.m. on Thursday, and is scheduled to land on the Inner Mongolia steppe at about 5:40 p.m. on Sunday.
Source: Xinhua
Feature: Wives of Chinese astronauts expect reunion in pride, anxiety
Zhang Shujing couldn't wait to welcome her husband back -- from somewhere 343 km above the earth.
"I have prepared a lot of flowers -- lilies and a rose. The rose represents my heart," said Zhang, the wife of Chinese astronaut Zhai Zhigang, who accomplished the nation's first space walk with his two colleagues onboard the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft on Saturday afternoon.
Dressed in red, the color of luck in Chinese tradition, Zhang and the wives of the other two taikonauts watched the live telecast of the space walk and talked with the spacemen from the Beijing ground control center on Saturday night.
In the conversation, Zhang asked her husband how he ate, slept and whether he had dreamed of her. "He said sorry that he had not," said Zhang. "But I know I was in his heart."
She exulted in the feat performed by Zhai. "He is brilliant! I'm so lucky to get myself such a husband and I'm very proud," she told Xinhua. "I wish I could fly with him if I had a chance."
Zhang Yao, the wife of Liu Boming, thought Liu's performance was "perfect". "I 've been watching TV all the night in the past few days. Sometimes I fell asleep, then awoke and continued."
Zhang Ping was a bit surprised to find her husband Jing Haipeng "look younger in space than on earth". She noticed every detail of Jing's work in space. "He read the manual attentively, sometimes scratching something on it with the pencil. They did an excellent job."
Like the three astronauts, who are all 42 years old, their wives have much in common: all are surnamed Zhang, while two of them are from the same hometown with the same birthday.
While exuding pride for their loved ones, the wives have gone through jitters and anxiety.
"I was so nervous when they opened the hatch door that my hands sweat," said Zhang Shujing. "I lost 3 kg of weight in the past two weeks, but I have more trust in them than worries."
"One day they spent in the sky was like a decade for me on the ground," said Zhang Ping, adding she felt more relaxed after the conversation.
The Shenzhou-7 spacecraft took off from northwest China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 9:10 p.m. on Thursday, and is scheduled to land on the Inner Mongolia steppe at about 5:40 p.m. on Sunday.
The astronauts have to be quarantined for about half a month after the landing, said Zhang Shujing. "We can't see them during that period, but we can rest our hearts as long as they are on the earth."
Source: Xinhua
"I have prepared a lot of flowers -- lilies and a rose. The rose represents my heart," said Zhang, the wife of Chinese astronaut Zhai Zhigang, who accomplished the nation's first space walk with his two colleagues onboard the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft on Saturday afternoon.
Dressed in red, the color of luck in Chinese tradition, Zhang and the wives of the other two taikonauts watched the live telecast of the space walk and talked with the spacemen from the Beijing ground control center on Saturday night.
In the conversation, Zhang asked her husband how he ate, slept and whether he had dreamed of her. "He said sorry that he had not," said Zhang. "But I know I was in his heart."
She exulted in the feat performed by Zhai. "He is brilliant! I'm so lucky to get myself such a husband and I'm very proud," she told Xinhua. "I wish I could fly with him if I had a chance."
Zhang Yao, the wife of Liu Boming, thought Liu's performance was "perfect". "I 've been watching TV all the night in the past few days. Sometimes I fell asleep, then awoke and continued."
Zhang Ping was a bit surprised to find her husband Jing Haipeng "look younger in space than on earth". She noticed every detail of Jing's work in space. "He read the manual attentively, sometimes scratching something on it with the pencil. They did an excellent job."
Like the three astronauts, who are all 42 years old, their wives have much in common: all are surnamed Zhang, while two of them are from the same hometown with the same birthday.
While exuding pride for their loved ones, the wives have gone through jitters and anxiety.
"I was so nervous when they opened the hatch door that my hands sweat," said Zhang Shujing. "I lost 3 kg of weight in the past two weeks, but I have more trust in them than worries."
"One day they spent in the sky was like a decade for me on the ground," said Zhang Ping, adding she felt more relaxed after the conversation.
The Shenzhou-7 spacecraft took off from northwest China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 9:10 p.m. on Thursday, and is scheduled to land on the Inner Mongolia steppe at about 5:40 p.m. on Sunday.
The astronauts have to be quarantined for about half a month after the landing, said Zhang Shujing. "We can't see them during that period, but we can rest our hearts as long as they are on the earth."
Source: Xinhua
Expert: Chance slim for Shenzhou 7 to land on foreign territory
China's Shenzhou 7 spacecraft has a slim chance to land out of China, an expert with the space project said on Sunday.
Except for the major and the standby landing sites, China has a large territory where set many emergency sites, said An Zhenhua, main designer of the landing system of China's manned space projects.
China has the possibility to chose foreign counties for landing in extreme conditions, which should be decided by the headquarter, An said.
The option counties, who had signed agreements with China, have the responsibilities to help searching for the spacecraft and return it to China, he said.
If it goes on successfully, the re-entry module will be found within half an hour to one hour, said An, whose team had attended the space projects ever since Shenzhou 1.
"We are confident to find the re-entry module before dark," he said.
However, uncertain elements still exist. Detailed emergency plans had been made and helicopters, airplane with paratroopers had been standby according to the plans, An said.
As of 2:00 p.m. Sunday, the space environment is stable and calm, which is favorable for the operation of the module and the taikonauts, according to the last forecast before landing from the Center for Space Environment Research and Forecast under Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The geomagnetic activities will be in a low level from Sept. 28 to 30, which will provide a favorable environment to taikonauts.
As of 2:00 p.m., the spaceship which blasted off Thursday at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern Gansu Province, has made 44 orbits around the earth as scheduled.
The re-entry module will complete it mission on its 46 orbits and land on the earth at around 5:44 Sunday.
The trio onboard Shenzhou-7 started preparing on Sunday morning for the return trip to the earth after accomplishing China's first spacewalk on Saturday afternoon.
The three taikonauts were taking on in-cabin space suits at 11:10 a.m. and control data for the return trip would be sent to the spacecraft.
Source: Xinhua
Except for the major and the standby landing sites, China has a large territory where set many emergency sites, said An Zhenhua, main designer of the landing system of China's manned space projects.
China has the possibility to chose foreign counties for landing in extreme conditions, which should be decided by the headquarter, An said.
The option counties, who had signed agreements with China, have the responsibilities to help searching for the spacecraft and return it to China, he said.
If it goes on successfully, the re-entry module will be found within half an hour to one hour, said An, whose team had attended the space projects ever since Shenzhou 1.
"We are confident to find the re-entry module before dark," he said.
However, uncertain elements still exist. Detailed emergency plans had been made and helicopters, airplane with paratroopers had been standby according to the plans, An said.
As of 2:00 p.m. Sunday, the space environment is stable and calm, which is favorable for the operation of the module and the taikonauts, according to the last forecast before landing from the Center for Space Environment Research and Forecast under Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The geomagnetic activities will be in a low level from Sept. 28 to 30, which will provide a favorable environment to taikonauts.
As of 2:00 p.m., the spaceship which blasted off Thursday at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern Gansu Province, has made 44 orbits around the earth as scheduled.
The re-entry module will complete it mission on its 46 orbits and land on the earth at around 5:44 Sunday.
The trio onboard Shenzhou-7 started preparing on Sunday morning for the return trip to the earth after accomplishing China's first spacewalk on Saturday afternoon.
The three taikonauts were taking on in-cabin space suits at 11:10 a.m. and control data for the return trip would be sent to the spacecraft.
Source: Xinhua
Shenzhou-7 lands safely
China's Shenzhou-7 space module carrying three taikonauts landed by parachute Sunday afternoon in China's northern grassland, the mission ground control center announced.
Astronauts Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming, and Jing Haipeng came back from a 68-hour flight, which included a monumental 20-minute spacewalk on Saturday.
The cylindrical module parachuted softly onto a landing site in central Inner Mongolia, where about 300 search and rescue staff waited.
They will be taken to a hospital in the Inner Mongolian capital Hohhot for medical examination and are scheduled to fly back to Beijing on Monday.
TV grab taken on Sept. 28, 2008, in Beijing, China, shows Shenzhou-7 entry module landed successfully.
Source: Xinhua
Astronauts Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming, and Jing Haipeng came back from a 68-hour flight, which included a monumental 20-minute spacewalk on Saturday.
The cylindrical module parachuted softly onto a landing site in central Inner Mongolia, where about 300 search and rescue staff waited.
They will be taken to a hospital in the Inner Mongolian capital Hohhot for medical examination and are scheduled to fly back to Beijing on Monday.
TV grab taken on Sept. 28, 2008, in Beijing, China, shows Shenzhou-7 entry module landed successfully.
Source: Xinhua
Flamengo rises to fourth with thrilling win
Flamengo came from behind to beat Sport 2-1 on Saturday in the 27th round of the Brasileiro Championship, hanging on to the fourth place on the standing, which is the last spot for Brazilian teams in the 2009 Libertadores Cup.
After a balancing first half, the first goal of the game came in the 54th minute when Sport's Carlinhos Bala sent the corner kick into the front of the net. The ball passed through everyone and landed at the feet of Roger at the far side of the net. Roger simply tapped the ball in.
Only nine minutes to go, Flamengo got on the scoreboard when Juan passed the ball off to the reserve player, Vandinho, who dribbled through the Sport defense and blew the ball past the goalkeeper, Magrao.
In the injury time, Marcelinho Paraiba crossed the ball from the right side of the field to Vandinho who headed the ball in for Flamengo's winning goal.
Flamengo's next game will be at Nautica on Saturday. Sport, who continues in 10th place in this year's tournament with 39 points, saw their six-game undefeated streak beijing ended. In the 28th round of play, Sport will face Cruzeiro on Thursday.
Source: Xinhua
After a balancing first half, the first goal of the game came in the 54th minute when Sport's Carlinhos Bala sent the corner kick into the front of the net. The ball passed through everyone and landed at the feet of Roger at the far side of the net. Roger simply tapped the ball in.
Only nine minutes to go, Flamengo got on the scoreboard when Juan passed the ball off to the reserve player, Vandinho, who dribbled through the Sport defense and blew the ball past the goalkeeper, Magrao.
In the injury time, Marcelinho Paraiba crossed the ball from the right side of the field to Vandinho who headed the ball in for Flamengo's winning goal.
Flamengo's next game will be at Nautica on Saturday. Sport, who continues in 10th place in this year's tournament with 39 points, saw their six-game undefeated streak beijing ended. In the 28th round of play, Sport will face Cruzeiro on Thursday.
Source: Xinhua
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